Side Brush Cover for Autonomous Floor Cleaning Device

ABSTRACT

A method for mobile robotic floor cleaning devices to have a side brush cover. The cover for the side brush is designed in order to avoid the common issue of entanglement. Entanglement often occurs with the robot&#39;s side brush as the robot cleans a given area and the side brush encounters a cord or cable laying on the floor. As the side brush spins the cable or cord becomes wrapped around the side brush disabling the unit entirely until the user physically detangles the cord and unit. This invention seeks to remedy this issue by adding a barrier between the side brush and any objects. The side brush cover is a hollow cover with at least one opening covering the side brush in a manner which allows the bristles to extend out from under the chassis through the opening to sweep debris and enter the cover as they are spun back under the device, and the cover preventing objects in the environment such as chords or cables from winding around the spinning axis of the side brush by providing a physical barrier that blocks objects as they are pushed up against the cover opening by the bristles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/364,517, filed Jul. 20, 2016 by the present inventor.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to vacuum cleaners and specifically to cleaner brushes.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Patent Documents

Patent Number Kind Code Issue Date Patentee WO2011103198 A1 Aug. 25, 2011 iRobot Corporation 20160345792 A1 Dec. 1, 2016 Neato Robotics Inc. EP 2536322 B1 Apr. 5, 2017 iRobot Corporation 7,571,511 B2 Aug. 11, 2009 iRobot Corporation 20060020369 A1 Jan. 26, 2006 Charles Taylor et al.

Various vacuum cleaner brushes are known in the art and many robotic devices benefit from side brushes that assist them in better cleaning tight corners, working as a supplementary feature to a robotic device's main brush. One of the major issues for these brushes has been the entanglement of items such as cords, wires and cables. While prior art in the field of robotic vacuums has existed it has focused on areas not addressed by the present invention. W.O. Pat. No. 2,011,103,198 and U.S. Pat. No. 20,160,345,792 focused on the entanglement of hair and similar debris in a device's main brush. However these inventions do nothing to fix the common issue of the entanglement of cords, wires, cables and the like in the side brush. This invention does remedy this common issue.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is a goal of the present invention to provide the side brush mechanism of mobile robotic devices to have a level of protection against entanglements with objects such as cables, wires, and cords and the like.

It is a goal of the present invention to utilize a barrier over the side brush of mobile robotic devices in order to protect the side brush from entanglements with cords, wires, cables and the like.

It is a goal of the present invention to utilize a barrier around the side brush of mobile robotic devices in order to protect the side brush from entanglements with cords, wires, cables and the like.

It is a goal of the present invention to prevent mobile robotic devices from becoming stalled or temporarily inoperable due to entanglements of the side brush by objects such as cables, wires, cords and the like.

It is a goal of the present invention to still allow for the side brush to clean in a manner whereby the bristles extend out of one or more openings in the side brush cover whereby the bristles will push any debris under the mobile robotic vacuum whereby the main brush will then sweep this debris into the dust bin.

It is a goal of the present invention for the side brush cover opening to consist of a hardened material whereby no object could potentially pierce through this material.

It is a goal of the present invention for the side brush cover to not be limited to a specific shape or size so long as it is able to cover the side brush in a manner that it is able to achieve the goal of preventing entanglements of the side brush with objects.

It is a goal of the present invention for the openings in the side brush cover to potentially consist of one or more openings and come in a variety of shapes for the opening so long as the opening is able to achieve the goal of preventing entanglements of the side brush with objects.

The present invention achieves these goals by the addition of a cover device with one ore more openings for the side brush bristles which is positioned over and or around the side brush on the underside of the robotic vacuum. A side brush is positioned in the chassis on the underside of the mobile robotic vacuum with flexible bristles extending out from a rotating axis under the chassis through the opening of the cover to sweep debris and enter the cover as they are spun back under the device, the cover preventing objects from the environment from winding around the spinning axis of the side brush by providing a physical barrier that blocks objects as they are pushed up against the cover opening by the bristles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive features of the present invention are described and depicted with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover with one opening embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover encountering a cord embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a partial bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device without a side brush encountering a cord;

FIG. 3B illustrates a partial bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device without a side brush cover sweeping up a cord;

FIG. 3C illustrates a bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device without a side brush cover entangling a cord around the axis of its side brush;

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover with two openings embodying features of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial front elevation view of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover embodying features of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a few embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. This invention is intended to be non-inclusive and non-exhaustive in regards to what is referenced herein. For instance, the side brush cover referenced herein can take multiple shapes or forms and is not limited in terms of construction to a specific type of material.

The present invention relates in general to robotic vacuum cleanings and more specifically to vacuum cleaner side brushes. The present invention introduces a cover for the side brush of a mobile robotic vacuum in order to reduce the chance of entanglements with objects in a work environment such as cords, cables, wires and the like.

As used herein, the term “mobile robotic vacuum” may be defined generally to include one or more autonomous devices having communication, mobility, processing elements, and/or cleaning apparatuses. For example, an autonomous surface cleaning device may comprise a casing or shell, a chassis including a set of wheels, a motor to drive these wheels, a receiver that acquires signals transmitted from, for example, a transmitting beacon, a processor, and/or controller that processes and/or controls motor and other robotic autonomous or cleaning operations, network or wireless communications, power management, etc., and one or more clock or synchronizing devices.

An autonomous mobile robotic vacuum cleaning device comprising a chassis, set of wheels, motor to drive the wheels, side brush positioned in the chassis with flexible bristles extending out from a rotating axis under the chassis through the opening of the cover to sweep debris and enter the cover as they are spun back under the device, the cover preventing objects in the work environment from winding around the spinning axis of the side brush by providing a physical barrier that blocks objects as they are pushed up against the cover opening by the bristles.

In the preferred embodiment, the cover has a disk-like form. However, alternatively shaped covers that effectively block objects from becoming entangled with the brush may be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

In some embodiments, additional or alternative openings or perforations are provided on the cover through which debris may pass so as not to amass inside the cover.

Referring to FIG. 1, a bottom view of an embodiment of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover embodying features of the present invention is illustrated. Autonomous surface cleaning device 100 is comprised of a chassis 101, set of wheels 102, motor to drive wheels 103, vacuum apparatus 107, and side brush 110 comprised of bristles 104 connected to spinning axis 105. A partial cover 106 is disposed around the side brush 110. In the preferred embodiment, the side brush is positioned toward the edge of the chassis, allowing the bristles to sweep up debris 109 that may otherwise be out of reach of a main cleaning apparatus 107 of the device by spinning in a direction 108. In some embodiments, the diameter of the cover may be slightly smaller than the diameter of the brush, provided that the bristles are made of a flexible or semi-flexible material. As the brush rotates in direction 108, the bristles enter the cover when they reach the area beneath the chassis 101 and exit the cover when they reach the area not beneath the chassis. Obstacles that could otherwise become entangled around the spinning side brush such as cords and wires, are prevented from winding around the side brush as they are blocked by the cover when pushed up against it by the bristles.

Referring to FIG. 2, a bottom view of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover embodying features of the present invention is illustrated. Autonomous surface cleaning device 100 is comprised of a chassis 101, set of wheels 102, motor to drive wheels 103, vacuum apparatus 107, and side brush 110 comprised of bristles 104 connected to spinning axis 105. A partial cover 106 is disposed around the side brush 110. As can be seen, when the side brush 110 encounters an obstacle such as a cord 200, the cover 106 blocks the cord from being spun around the axis 105 and becoming further entangled in the side brush. Instead of entering the area underneath the chassis 101 with the bristles 104, the cord is pushed off the bristles as they rotate into the cover, and the cord remains outside of the cover.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3C, partial views of the operation of a side brush without a cover are illustrated to demonstrate the problem that the side brush cover solves. In FIG. 3A, the bristles 104 come into contact with cord 200 as the brush is spinning in direction 108. FIG. 3B shows the progression of the device in FIG. 3A after a short amount of time. In FIG. 3B, the brush has turned further in direction 108, causing the cord 200 to be swept up by the bristles 104 and dragged under the chassis 101. FIG. 3C shows the further progression of FIG. 3B after a short amount of time. In FIG. 3C, the brush has turned further in direction 108 and cord 200 is beginning to become wound about the brush's turning axis 105. As can be seen, without a brush cover, objects in a work environment like cords and wires may easily become entangled in a side brush. Conversely, a brush cover, as shown in FIG. 2, would force a cord off of the bristles, preventing it from becoming wound about the turning axis.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Autonomous surface cleaning device 100 is comprised of a chassis 101, set of wheels 102, motor to drive wheels 103, vacuum apparatus 107, and side brush 110 comprised of bristles 104 connected to spinning axis 105. A partial cover 106 is disposed around the side brush 110. In this embodiment, the cover has an additional opening 400 beneath the chassis that allows debris 109 swept by the bristles to exit the cover and be suctioned by a vacuum apparatus 107. In some embodiments, a plurality of perforations or openings may be disposed on the cover beneath the chassis to facilitate debris exiting the cover.

Referring to FIG. 5, a partial front elevation view of an autonomous surface cleaning device with a side brush cover is illustrated. Autonomous surface cleaning device 100 is comprised of a chassis 101, set of wheels 102, motor to drive the wheels (not illustrated), vacuum apparatus (not illustrated), and side brush 110 comprised of bristles 104 connected to spinning axis 105. A partial cover 106 is disposed around the side brush 110, serving to prevent objects from the work area, such as cords and wires, from becoming entangled around the side brush as it spins.

In some embodiments, the cover may have an open bottom or different configurations of holes or openings.

In some embodiments, the cover may be made of a hardened material such that objects cannot pierce it.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the application of the invention, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in its various embodiments and modifications according to the particular purpose contemplated. The scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

We claim:
 1. A surface cleaning device comprising: a chassis, a side brush disposed on an underside of said chassis comprised of a set of bristles anchored to a rotatable axis, a hollow cover with at least one opening covering the side burns such that the bristles are caused to exit the cover at a first end of the opening and reenter the cover at a second end of the opening, wherein the hollow cover prevents objects from becoming entangled in the side brush by physically blocking them at the second end of the hollow cover.
 2. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the cover further comprises one or more additional openings that allow debris swept by the side brush to escape the cover.
 3. The surface cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the material composition of the side brush cover is such that neither objects, debris nor side brush bristles may pass through save through the opening.
 4. The side brush cover opening of claim 2 wherein the said one or more openings of the cover are positioned in a manner such that the side brush bristles extend outward and clean along the side of the surface cleaning device.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the cover prevents objects such as cords, cables, wires and the like from becoming entangled around the side brush causing the mobile robotic vacuum to become inoperable.
 6. A surface cleaning device comprising: a chassis, a side brush positioned on the underside of said chassis comprised of a set of bristles anchored to a rotatable axis, a hollowed cover positioned over and around said side brush containing one or more openings through which side brush bristles exit the opening at a first end while reentering the cover at a second end of the opening, the hollow cover preventing objects from entering the cover and entangling themselves around the side brush by physically blocking them at the second end of the opening to the hollow cover.
 7. The surface cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the cover is further comprised of one or more additional openings that allow debris swept by the side brush to escape the cover.
 8. The surface cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the material composition of the side brush cover is of a hardened nature such that neither debris nor side brush bristles may pass through save through the opening provided.
 9. The side brush cover opening of claim 7 wherein the said one or more openings of the cover are positioned in a manner such that the side brush bristles extend outward and clean along the side of the surface cleaning device.
 10. The method of claim 6 wherein the cover prevents objects such as cords, cables, wires and the like from becoming entangled around the side brush causing the mobile robotic vacuum to become inoperable. 